The Office of Community Development & Project: Empowering Democracy in Eastern Congo
Election celebration in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo on January 10, 2019. Photo by Baz Ratner/Reuters
The CORR Action Fund awarded the Office of Community Development & Project of the East Congo Central Conference $10,000 for their empowering democracy project as part of its 2022 Grant Cycle. For more about the CORR Action Fund and other grantees, visit the 2022 CORR Action Fund Grantees Page.
Inspiring work is being carried out by the Development Office UMC East Congo Area, situated in the heart of Mission Lokolé, Mikelenge, Kindu DRC. As an integral part of the United Methodist Church in eastern Congo, this office helps to foster positive change within the region. They were recently awarded a grant through the CORR Action Fund to aid in their work.
Established in February 2015, the Office of Community Development and Project operates as a department of the United Methodist Community in the Eastern Congo. Additionally, it is affiliated with development and relief agencies such as CONNEXIO, UMCOR, UMC Global Health, and Global Ministries, among others. The office's reach extends across all provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, encompassing 81 United Methodist Communities in eastern Congo.
Dedicated to addressing critical issues related to gender, women's empowerment, health, education, agriculture, environment, and sustainable development, the Office of Community Development and Project endeavors to create a lasting impact. One way they do this is through democracy-building innovation.
One of the significant challenges faced by the region is the lack of participation in the democratic process, particularly among young people. The project aims to mobilize and engage this vibrant demographic, encouraging their involvement in all stages of democratic elections. The underlying cause for their low participation is often attributed to a lack of awareness regarding their rights and civic duties as citizens. By equipping young people with the knowledge they need and empowering them to inspire their peers, this project has the potential to fortify democracy and foster transparent, peaceful, and inclusive elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project’s strategy entails raising awareness through informative sessions and employing techniques to identify communities and leaders who may initially resist participation. The objective is to ensure that everyone, including youth and individuals with disabilities, actively partakes in the electoral process. Their meaningful engagement will not only bolster democracy but also enable them to elect candidates of their choice, thereby fostering a sense of ownership and strengthening the relationship between the people and the government.
Specifically, this project aims to enhance citizen participation among young Pygmies and Bantus in the upcoming 2023 electoral process. By educating approximately 9,500 young individuals about the electoral and democratic process, they strive to empower them with a profound understanding of their civic rights.
Furthermore, this initiative emphasizes gender equality by ensuring that around 50% of the direct beneficiaries are girls. By reducing gender inequality, the hope is to instill in boys the significance of advocating for girls in the fight against gender violence. In pursuit of an inclusive and peaceful democracy, the project is committed to actively involving people with disabilities in electoral activities as equals. This entails promoting their leadership positions and actively combating discrimination.
The Office of Community Development and Project: Empowering Democracy in Eastern Congo is leading the way to a brighter future for the Democratic Republic of Congo, where every citizen's voice is heard, and democracy flourishes.
